Sterling Scholar is a great achievement in the state of Utah. The Deseret News and KSL developed the competition in 1962 to honor outstanding high school seniors. Winners of the competition are publicly recognized and can win cash prizes and even tuition waivers from many Utah colleges and universities. Students who apply for Sterling Scholar complete a portfolio of their achievements and then participate in interviews, then those that win at a high school level then go on to compete against seniors from across the state.

There are 14 different categories, focusing on different areas a student can excel in, from the fine arts to the technical arts to the typical academic fields.

This year Timpview’s Sterling Scholars are as follows:

• Business and Marketing – Isabella Hanson
• Computer Technology – Owen Platt
• Dance – Bella Fillmore
• English – River Knudsen
• Family and Consumer Sciences – Rachel Ryu
• Instrumental Music – Jeremiah Gunter
• Mathematics – Ethan Burgin
• Science – Evealla Banya
• Skilled and Technical Sciences – Kyan Swanepoel
• Social Science – Laurel Peterson
• Speech/Theater Arts/Forensics – Vienna Van Dyke
• Vocal Performance – Briana Sikes
• World Languages – Adelaide Wingate

Featured below are 3 of the winners, one from the humanities, one from the fine arts, and one from STEM.

Laurel Peterson – Social Science Sterling Scholar
Laurel Peterson has always loved history. She read countless historical nonfiction books as a child, her favorite being Anne Applebaum’s Gulag. Her dad has worked in public policy for decades, a field Peterson aims to work in as well one day. “I believe that making decisions that benefit the public is an important part of being a citizen or a public servant,” she says.

She’s already begun participating in initiatives to better the community as a high school student. She’s been a member of the Provo Youth Court for 2 years and is now the Vice Secretary, creating a curriculum to teach youth to deal with peer pressure and impulse control. She also volunteered for The Policy Project as a Period Product Placement Volunteer, making sure women in schools have full access to these products. “Any barriers to girl’s education is a problem that should be fixed,” Peterson says. She has volunteered at a BYU Hinkley Mounds archaeological field site sifting dirt at a 1,000 year old Fremont Indian Village, volunteered with the Utah Lake Authority and Conserve Utah Valley to share the importance of Utah Lake and plant native plants to increase biodiversity, and spent four weeks doing manual labor in Yellowstone National Park as an employee of the US Department of the Interior. As the cherry on top, last summer, she was a Legislative and Campaign Intern for Utah State Representative Gay Lynn Bennion.

Peterson’s skills make her a valuable part of Timpview’s Debate Club where she serves as president, teaching communication, writing, and research skills. Through debate, she has achieved 1st place for her informative speech on the need for Comprehensive Sex Education in the State of Utah and received a Degree of Excellence from the National Speech and Debate Association. “While these achievements are great,” she says. “I am more grateful for the opportunity to learn how to communicate effectively with others.”

Aside from history, Peterson loves to travel. “I have learned to enjoy and respect the beauty of other cultures because of the year I spent in Italy during middle school.” Since going to Italy, she has visited 13 countries and can’t wait to visit more.

When asked how she felt after winning the competition, Peterson said, “I felt so proud to be able to honor my father, who inspired me to get involved in the field of social science, and the countless others who have supported me. I was also thrilled to represent the amazing, intelligent women at our school.”

After high school, she plans to pursue a bachelor’s degree in history from BYU then go out of state to get her Master’s degree in public policy with the hopes of solving problems on a local and state level, serving the public and the community.

She would tell any younger student hoping to pursue social science to put themselves out there. “Don’t be afraid to try new things. Seek new opportunities to learn, as well as new adventures. Not only is this a great way to learn about yourself and your capabilities, it’s also a way to learn about what you’re interested in. Don’t be afraid to make stupid mistakes.”

Vienna Van Dyke – Theater Arts Sterling Scholar
Vienna Van Dyke was drawn into theater by the people. “The silence that comes with grieving or welcoming, having stillness in front of hundreds of people, or telling a story that never gets told are a few of the greatest things we have,” she says. “And none of it would be possible if there weren’t these breathtaking and lovely people to lift it up and celebrate it.”

Van Dyke served as Community Chair on the Drama Council last year, originating and planning the first Drama Prom, where students from across Utah County could come dress up and dance to musical theater songs. She now serves as the Drama President, overseeing and co-running the Drama Club, leading the Drama Council’s meetings and activities, being the director’s right hand man, and being a friend to anyone wanting to make a home in the theater department. This past weekend, she competed with Drama at the Shakespeare Competition in Cedar City with their ensemble taking 4th in their division. She was recognized for the Larry Lott Award, given to the student picked as best actor across the entire division and granting a generous scholarship to SUU. Throughout her high school career she has performed at the Drama Region and State competitions. Her sophomore year she performed a classical scene from The Tempest, making it to finals at Region level and her junior year she performed a classical scene from Tartuffe, placing second at Region and 5th at State. She’s received a Theatre Superior at state level every year she’s competed.

On top of her theater achievements, Van Dyke has had an impressive academic career. She received at 34 on her ACT, was recognized as an AP scholar, and is graduating magna cum laude in the spring. Her junior year, she completed all her core classes online and was qualified to graduate, however she decided to spend another year in Timpview Theatre, but further her education via the University of Utah’s High School program.

Aside from theater, Van Dyke loves her job at Dutch Bros. “Current order has gotta be a chocolate milk caramel pumpkin brulee chai,” she says. She also loves journaling and writing, believing in the practice of creating more than you consume. Her notes app is full of writings about the people in her life and the things that make her smile. “I love plays and mornings and I really love when people say the same thing at the same time and laugh about it and I think there’s not much in life I don’t love!”

When asked about her reaction to winning, she speaks to doing about four double takes to make sure she read it right and thinking back to alumni like Alena Cobia and Cannon Hadfield and how much she looked up to them. “I thought about how I very well might be the kid that a freshman with stars in their eyes and an overflowing Pinterest board might be looking up to, and that made me want to work even harder,” she says.

After high school, Van Dyke plans to get a BFA in the musical theatre or acting track with concurrent study in cognitive neuroscience from SUU or UofU and a cat named Skimbleshanks.

Her advice for any young theatre student is that “there is so much to be said about the politics of theatre and the difficulty that comes with vulnerability and performing, but my main piece of advice is to do WHAT you love, and remember WHY you love it.”

Evealla Banya – Science Sterling Scholar
Evaella Banya loves medicine and neuroscience, believing in the power of studying the brain on improving healthcare. “Through understanding the brain, we can more coherently help those with mental illnesses, disorders, and physiological brain damage,” she explains.

Currently, Banya is conducting original research on dementia and brain lesions at Dr. Nielsen’s “Brain Lab” at BYU. She spent sophomore and junior year working as a research assistant in another neuroscience lab, researching immune cells and dopamine responses to understand more about addiction. Even back in middle school, she won various school and regional science fairs with research related to bacteria and plants. During her freshman year, she attended an exclusive Congress of Future Medical Leaders in Boston, accomplishing an Award of Excellence. Banya also serves as HOSA’s Utah County Vice President, administering 20+ HOSA chapters across Utah County and planning conferences where students can develop professional and leadership skills that help them pursue future health science careers. HOSA works with the National Marrow Donor Program and Zero Fatalities to increase awareness and fundraise for important causes. She is currently an intern at a Pediatric Rehabilitation Clinic at Orem Community Hospital, after 160 hours of internship and end-of-year testing, she will qualify for her Utah Endorsed Medical Assistant License. “I’m so grateful for each and every learning opportunity I’ve pursued throughout high school,” she says. “And [I] look forward to many more!”

Not only is Banya passionate about health science, she’s passionate about service as well. She co-founded Timpview’s Environmental Club last year and serves as a board member of Timpview’s National Honor Society. Additionally, she’s achieved the Presidential Volunteer Service Award, accomplished through 100+ hours of volunteer work within 12 months.

Outside of academia, she runs varsity and club track and has danced since she was 3, joining Timpview Dance Company during sophomore year and dancing at the Artistic Dance Project in Pleasant Grove. Banya’s other hobbies are widespread and creative, when asked about them, she had no shortage of answers, “Reading and painting are two of my favorite hobbies; I particularly enjoy classic novels and realism! I’m currently reading Dracula and The Invisible Life of Addie Larue. I taught myself how to crochet and play the electric guitar, so I pick up on my unfinished projects from time to time. I really enjoy video essays and podcasts as well; one of my favorite podcasters is Mina Le. I’m also a jewelry fanatic, I love going to farmers markets and thrifting cool jewelry! Last thing, I promise, I really love film photography! I have three cameras, all thrifted, and in my free time I shoot concerts, friends, and festivals!”

Upon learning that she won the competition, Banya felt really excited to demonstrate her passion for science on a bigger platform. “It’s amazing to have the opportunity to showcase my interests for more people with the potential to win a scholarship for my passion.”

After high school, she plans to go to college out of state and eventually medical school to hopefully specialize in pediatric psychiatry while still nurturing her hobbies and talents.

Her advice to young scientists and young achievers in general is simply, “Go big or go home!” A sentiment that seems to be shared across the board by these Sterling Scholars.

As the Sterling Scholars work on their regional portfolios, look for their professional headshots, which will soon replace last year’s hanging on the wall by the main entrance. When you see them, let it serve as an indication of what passion and hard work can achieve, and how there’s no singular way to be exceptional.